Boone Torches Ben Rice, Refuses Judge Bailout
Yankees Manager Aaron Boone Challenges Slumping Ben Rice: "Figure It Out" as Team Pushes for Playoffs
The Situation: A Young Hitter in a Deep Freeze
Imagine you’re playing a video game where your star player gets injured, and suddenly your backup player—who was crushing it before—can’t hit a beach ball with a paddle. That’s basically what’s happening with the New York Yankees right now.
Ben Rice, the team’s 27-year-old designated hitter (DH)—that’s a player who only bats and doesn’t play defense—has gone ice cold at the worst possible time. Over his last five games, he has exactly one hit in 19 at-bats. That’s a batting average of .053. For context, that’s like showing up to a test you studied for and forgetting how to hold a pencil.
Important Point: A designated hitter’s only job is to hit. When they don’t hit, it’s a massive problem.
Boone’s Message: Tough Love, Not Excuses
Manager Aaron Boone knows he has to walk a fine line. Recently, he gave Jazz Chisholm Jr. a pass after a fielding error. But with Rice? He’s pulling no punches.
During an appearance on Talkin’ Yanks, Boone said:
"I do feel like [Rice] had a few games in there where he really started to swing the bat well, and wasn’t really getting rewarded for. He’s been a tick off now. I think the easy thing is to say that the supporting cast is not there. They pitch how they pitch you."
Translation: "Stop blaming the lineup. Pitchers have a game plan for you—execute yours."
What Boone Is Really Saying (In Plain English)
- No free passes — Missing Aaron Judge (the best hitter in baseball) isn’t an excuse.
- "The book is the book" — Pitchers follow scouting reports. They attack weaknesses regardless of who’s batting behind you.
- Adversity as fuel — Maybe Rice needs this struggle to wake up.
The Numbers Don’t Lie: Rice With vs. Without Judge
Here’s where it gets wild. Look at Rice’s production before and after Judge went on the 60-Day Injured List (IL) on May 31 with a stress fracture in his right first rib.
| Stat | With Judge (April–May) | Without Judge (June–August) |
|---|---|---|
| Batting Average | .321 | .187 |
| On-Base % (OBP) | .418 | .289 |
| Slugging % (SLG) | .617 | .398 |
| OPS (OBP + SLG) | 1.035 | .687 |
| Runs | 44 | 32 |
| Hits | 60 | 51 |
| Home Runs | 17 | 16 |
| At-Bats | 196 | 250 |
Key Takeaway: Rice went from an MVP-caliber hitter (1.035 OPS is elite) to a below-average one (.687 OPS) almost overnight after Judge’s injury.
August: The Bottom Falls Out
- Rice is hitting .096 in August.
- That’s the second-worst average on the team (minimum 5 games), ahead of only Heliot Ramos.
- For a DH, this is a crisis.
The Lone Bright Spot: A Clutch Homer
It’s not all bad. In one of those five hitless games, Rice crushed a tie-breaking 10th-inning home run against the Toronto Blue Jays—saving the Yankees from a sweep.
But here’s the kicker: earlier in that same game, he booted a ground ball that led to the tying run. So… hero and goat in one night.
Boone’s Theory: It’s Not About Judge’s Absence
You’d think: No Judge = pitchers challenge Rice more = worse stats. Boone disagrees.
"If you’ve got a better lineup, you’re scoring more, so the pitcher is in trouble more… That part is very real. [But] not so much that they’re pitching him different because Judge is not there. The book is the book. Guys get pitched how they get pitched."
In other words: Pitchers already had a plan for Rice. Judge being out doesn’t change how they pitch him—it just means fewer runs score when Rice does get on base.
Why This Matters: The Playoff Push
The Yankees are in the "home stretch" of the 2026 MLB season. Every game counts. They need:
- Rice to snap out of it — He’s too talented to stay this bad.
- Judge to return — Boone has hinted Judge could come back this season.
- The offense to stop stagnating — They can’t rely on one or two guys.
Summary
- Ben Rice is in a brutal slump: 1-for-19 over 5 games, .096 in August.
- Aaron Boone is challenging him publicly: No excuses, "figure it out."
- Stats show a massive drop-off since Aaron Judge’s injury: From 1.035 OPS to .687 OPS.
- Boone rejects the "protection" theory: Says pitchers follow their scouting report regardless.
- One clutch HR shows life — but a costly error shows the struggle is mental and physical.
- Judge’s potential return could change everything — but Rice can’t wait for a savior.
FAQ
What is a "designated hitter" (DH)?
A DH is a player who only bats and does not play a defensive position in the field. It’s used in the American League (and now universally in MLB). Their entire value comes from hitting.
What does "60-Day IL" mean?
The Injured List (IL) is where teams put players who are hurt. The 60-Day IL means the player is out for at least 60 days and doesn’t count toward the 40-man roster limit. It’s for serious injuries.
What is OPS and why does it matter?
OPS = On-Base Percentage + Slugging Percentage. It combines how often a player gets on base with how much power they hit for. Above .800 is good. Above .900 is great. 1.000+ is elite. Rice went from elite to below average.
Why does Boone say "The book is the book"?
"The book" = the scouting report pitchers use. It means: Pitchers already know Rice’s weaknesses. They attack them the same way whether Judge is playing or not.
Can Rice turn it around?
Absolutely. He’s 27, talented, and was crushing the ball earlier this year. Slumps happen. The question is: Will he adjust before the playoffs? Boone’s pressure might be exactly what he needs.